• Box Score

WHEELING, W.Va. (Dec. 30) – After leading for almost the first 38 minutes of the game, the Vulcans suffered a 63-58 loss to Wheeling Jesuit on Wednesday evening in the second and final day of the Main Street Bank Classic hosted by the Cardinals.

The California University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team dropped its second-straight game to fall to 7-3 this year while Wheeling Jesuit improves to 6-2.

Junior transfer forward Andrew Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Cheltenham) led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench. The Philadelphia native shot six-of-nine from the floor and went four-of-four from the free-throw line. True freshman guard Ryne Niemiec (Brownsville, Pa./Beth-Center) added 11 points on four-of-six attempts from the field with three three-pointers.

Junior guard Travis Williams (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God Christian Academy) finished with nine points in 21 minutes off the bench while sophomore forward Kelsey Williams (Sandusky, Ohio / Sandusky) posted eight points after battling foul trouble.

With the Vulcans leading 58-48 with 5:26 remaining, the Cardinals scored the final 15 points of the game to earn the 63-58 victory. During the last five-plus minutes, Cal U missed its last four shots from the floor and committed four turnovers. In comparison, Wheeling Jesuit shot four-of-six from the field and five-of-six from the free-throw line.

After leading 35-21 at halftime, Wheeling Jesuit cut the deficit to eight points, 39-31, with 15:45 left in the game. Cal U then countered with a 16-4 rally over a span of 5:27 to stretch its lead to as many as 20 points, 55-35, with 10:18 remaining. During the run, the Vulcans made seven-of-nine shots capped with a jumper by Young.

Cal U shot 50 percent in the first half before finishing the game with a 41.5 shooting percentage (22-of-53) from the floor. The Vulcans made only 10 trips to the free-throw line, making 9-of-10 (90.0 percent) from the free-throw line. In comparison, Wheeling Jesuit made 44.7 percent (21-of-47) of its shots and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the charity stripe.

The Vulcans out-rebounded the Cardinals by a 31-29 margin, led by eight rebounds from Young. Junior forward Rashawd Hatten (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) and sophomore guard Travon Vann (Frederick, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) each finished with seven rebounds. In the loss, Cal U collected 16 assists on 22 field-goals but committed 21 turnovers.

Cal U returns to action on Friday, Jan. 2, when it hosts West Chester in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action at 3 p.m. Last year, the Golden Rams withstood a last-minute rally by the Vulcans to earn a 61-60 victory.